Councils required to publish plans for accommodation needs of care leavers under new rules
Local authorities will be required under new rules to publish their plans for care leavers’ accommodation needs, work with housing partners, and support those at risk of homelessness in their local offer for care leavers.
High Court quashes refusal of council to award health and independence points to claimant bidding for properties on housing register
The High Court has found against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) in a housing case even though it is not the tenant’s landlord.
Make monitoring officer and s151 officer part of executive leadership team, governance peer review tells council where relationships “badly eroded”
City of Doncaster City Council should make its Section 151 and monitoring officers standing members of the executive leadership team as it tries to recover from tensions and mistrust between some senior figures.
Family Court judge criticises way independent social worker used AI
A Family Court judge has criticised the way that an independent social worker used AI in care proceedings, finding she could not place “any significant weight” on the social worker’s evidence as a result.
Devise of property now housing museum was beneficial gift to city council, High Court rules
Exeter City Council has no duty to preserve as a museum a historic house it was left in 1983 by a relation of the actor Vivien Leigh, the High Court has decided.
Council decision that sewage discharge was not statutory nuisance could face judicial review
Richmond Council is facing a legal challenge after dismissing a statutory nuisance complaint brought over sewage discharges in to the River Thames.
Campaigners eye legal challenge over planning approval for 180-home scheme
A local campaign groups has closed in on its £4,000 target to crowdfund enough to employ a lawyer to look at the legality of a planning decision in Sandbach.
Government must ensure ICB workforce reductions deliver “sustainable savings” without losing essential capacity, says watchdog
The National Audit Office has warned that NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care must protect Integrated Care Board (ICB) capacity and capability to deliver “long-term improvements” in population health.
MPs call for police investigation into district council
A rapid Best Value assessment has been launched into Ashfield District Council amid calls from local MPs for an independent police investigation into the local authority.
Social landlord secures £110k unlawful profit order over decade-long tenancy fraud
Sovereign Network Group (SNG) has secured an unlawful profit order worth £110,000 plus costs and interest against a tenant in the London Borough of Hackney who had been unlawfully subletting.
Procurement Act challenge brought out of time, High Court finds
A High Court challenge to Cambridgeshire County Council's (CCC) £928m homecare procurement has failed after a judge concluded that the care provider bringing the claim had issued proceedings outside the statutory time limit.
Government consults on reforms to Crichel Down Rules on compulsory purchase
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on reforming the process known as the Crichel Down Rules.
Deprivation of liberty of young man “necessary, proportionate, lawful and in best interests”, Court of Protection rules
The Court of Protection has found that a young man’s present care and support arrangements amount to a deprivation of his liberty, but they are nonetheless in his best interests to protect him from reoffending and from exposure to criminal sanction “were those risks to crystallise”.
Councillors again refuse to adopt planning delegation reforms despite monitoring officer warnings
Tameside Borough Council has voted for a second time to refuse changes to its constitution required for the Government’s National Scheme of Delegation for planning decisions in England, despite advice from its monitoring officer that the move is unlawful.
Council loses Court of Appeal battle over determination of complaint about cats fouling in garden
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a council’s appeal over a High Court judgment that required the local authority to redetermine a man's complaint regarding his neighbour's cats fouling in his garden.
Regulator initiates rare statutory inquiry into London-based social housing landlord
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has established an independent inquiry to investigate serious concerns at social housing landlord Ash-Shahada Housing Association Limited (ASHA).
Family Court rules on treatment of allegations against intervenors that are not litigated or determined
The Family Court has ruled that allegations against two intervenors that were not litigated and were not determined may not be relied upon as proved facts in any welfare assessment arising from care proceedings, “but neither can their non-determination be treated as establishing that the alleged…
Supreme Court agrees to hear subsidy control appeal over loans by combined authority to property group
The Supreme Court has given developer Aubrey Weis permission in part to appeal the Court of Appeal’s rejection of his challenge against a decision by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to give more than £140m in loans to a rival.
Judge refuses to allow council to rely on late documents in permission-stage judicial review case
A High Court judge has in a permission-stage judicial review case refused to allow a defendant local authority to rely on late documents and has disallowed any costs of their preparation.
Reform leader who said he planned to fire council solicitors resigns
Leicestershire County Council’s Reform UK leader has stepped down after comments he made about firing more than 70 council solicitors were leaked online.
Council failed to consider section 42 duty to provide child with special educational provision set out in EHCP, Ombudsman finds
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised Lancashire County Council for failing to consider its section 42 duty to provide a child with the special educational provision set out in his EHC (Education, Health and Care) Plan.
New mayoral licensing powers “too broad”, London Councils warn
New licensing powers that allow the Mayor of London to call in licensing schemes if they are deemed of strategic importance are "too broad" and "not strategic, nor targeted", the London Councils group has warned.
Social worker issues pre-action letter over CAFCASS Gender Identity Guidance
A former Cafcass social worker, the Bayswater Support Group and a mother have issued a pre-action protocol letter regarding Cafcass’ Working with Children and Gender Identity guidance.
Council did not improperly delegate functions of deputyship appointments, Court of Protection rules
Contractual arrangements between the London Borough of Bromley and Liberata UK for certain practical tasks did not amount to improper delegation of the functions of deputyship, the Court of Protection has ruled.
Council recommended to pay £12k due to SEND failings
Dorset Council has been recommended to pay £12,000 by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman after a child received none of the educational provision in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan for five terms.
London borough facing judicial review challenge over revised housing allocations scheme
The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) has filed judicial review proceedings challenging Southwark Council’s new housing allocations scheme and the preceding consultation.
Councillor who posted edited video of monitoring officer breached code, standards panel finds
A Reform UK councillor at Leicestershire County Council has been formally censured and told to apologise after a Standards Panel found he published a selectively edited video of the authority’s former monitoring officer before publicly questioning her impartiality.
Ministry publishes overview of local government accountability system in England
The Government has published new guidance setting out how local authorities in England are held to account, how oversight functions operate, and how residents, partners and government can use these mechanisms to support effective and resilient local government.
Equalities watchdog updates harassment guidance as new employment law comes into force
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published updated guidance to help employers understand and meet stronger legal duties to prevent workplace harassment.
Geldards expands into East of England with Chelmsford office
Law firm Geldards has opened a new office in Chelmsford that will be led by the head of its Schools, Colleges and Universities practice.
Council settles judicial review over decision to ban gender-critical campaigners
Bristol City Council has settled a judicial review challenge brought by two gender-critical campaigners over their exclusion from council meetings and City Hall, apologising to the pair and amending its trans inclusion policy to recognise the legal protections afforded to gender-critical beliefs.
Civil Justice Council calls for new practice direction on AI use in court documents
The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has recommended new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in preparing court documents, including disclosure requirements for witnesses and expert evidence.
Review of controversial planning delegation changes should be brought forward, Local Government Association says
The Local Government Association has called on the Government to review the National Scheme of Delegation (NSD) earlier than initially planned amid fears the changes, which come into force tomorrow (31 October), undermine local democracy.
Education Tribunal for Wales erred in law in dealing with expert evidence, Upper Tribunal finds
The Upper Tribunal has allowed an appeal brought by a local authority, after finding the Education Tribunal for Wales “materially erred in law” in the way in which it dealt with expert evidence.
Council behind reorganisation legal challenge says delay brings more "chaos, cost and confusion"
The Leader of Devon County Council has sharply criticised the Government’s latest update on local government reorganisation (LGR), saying further delay will mean “more chaos, cost and confusion” for councils and communities.
Family President issues guidance on management of short notice applications in public family law proceedings
The President of the Family Division, Sir Stephen Cobb, has published new guidance and supporting materials designed to improve the management of short notice applications in public law family proceedings.
Council warns it cannot lawfully determine planning applications from end of month as it sets new meeting to consider constitutional changes
Bolton Council has warned that it will be unable to lawfully hold planning committee meetings or determine planning applications from the end of this month after councillors refused to approve constitutional changes required under the new National Scheme of Delegation.
Government restarts reorganisation for five areas
The Government has confirmed that five areas will proceed towards local government reorganisation (LGR), following its decision to pause and review the programme in September.
Guidance issued on applying revised social value model to central government procurements
The Cabinet Office has issued guidance on its revised social value model, which will apply to central government procurements commenced on or after 1 January 2027.
Police force unlawfully disclosed home address of domestic abuse victim to alleged abuser, ICO finds
The Information Commission’s Office has issued advice for organisations handling sensitive personal information, after Staffordshire Police unlawfully disclosed a domestic abuse victim's home address to their alleged abuser.
Autumn Budget 2026: Reaction from the sector
Local Government Lawyer rounds up the reaction from the sector to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Budget 2026.
Autumn Budget 2026: Key measures
Local Government Lawyer rounds up some of the key announcements and policy measures in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Budget 2026 affecting the sector.
Council names Corporate Director of Law and Governance as Executive Director for Resources
West Northamptonshire Council has appointed Sarah Hall, its Corporate Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, as its new Executive Director for Resources.
University fails in bid to get Free Speech Union to pay costs of intervention in regulatory dispute with Office for Students
A High Court judge has declined to make a costs order against the Free Speech Union (FSU), the intervenor in a case won by the University of Sussex, finding that the FSU's approach was at all stages “proportionate and focused”.
Council agrees to prioritise legal challenge over withdrawing local plan, following warning from minister
Members at Basildon Borough Council have abandoned plans to vote on a motion that called for the withdrawal of its local plan, after the local authority received a letter from the Government warning such a decision would be unlawful.
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Events
The Building Safety Act 2022: Understanding the New Building Safety Regime - Cornerstone Barristers
05-11-2026
Online (live)
Annual Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Seminar 2026 - Francis Taylor Building
05-11-2026
London
What the new National Planning Policy Framework means for strategic land development opportunities - Devonshires
05-11-2026
Online (live)
ParentAssess 10 Year Anniversary Conference 
FOISA Practitioner Certificate - Act Now 
Subsidy Control in 15 – Exemptions Part 2: Wider Exemptions - Sharpe Pritchard
05-11-2026 12:00 pm
Online (live)
Planning High Court Challenges 2026 Webinar Series - Session 1: Planning and environmental issues - Landmark Chambers
09-11-2026
Online (live)
Hugh James Housing Week 2026 
Modern Families - An Introduction - 42BR
Judicial Review Nuts and Bolts Part 2: Mounting a defence - Landmark Chambers
10-11-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
Subsidy Control in 15 – Subsidy Schemes & Streamlined Routes - Sharpe Pritchard
10-11-2026 12:00 pm
Online (live)
Planning Enforcement Nuts & Bolts - Ivy Legal 
3PB Family Public Law Conference
Subsidy Control in 15 – Subsidy Control Principles - Sharpe Pritchard
12-11-2026 12:00 pm
Online (live)
Planning High Court Challenges 2026 Webinar Series - Session 2: Law & Practice - Landmark Chambers
16-11-2026
Online (live)
Certified Data Protection Officer Training (CDPO) - The Training Centre
16-11-2026 9:00 am
Online (live)
HMPL Building Blocks: Legal Tools to Combat Anti-Social Behaviour - Devonshires
17-11-2026
Online (live)
Property Law Nuts & Bolts, Part 2: Mortgage possession proceedings - Landmark Chambers
17-11-2026
Online (live)
